December 10, 2006

An amazing troika of women, Tana, Nancy and Susan, put together an annual party for Toys for Tots...the idea is great...they provide a splendorous night of appetizers and spirits, every single excellent woman attending, brings gifts for kids. Glassybaby hailed as the host location and it was a sight to behold. More that 100 women arrived at our doorstep, after valets whisked their cars away (it is a class act.) Everyone glittered in holiday attire. Because of the huge success of their event, Marines are dispensed to box the toys, and just look genuinely dapper in their military finest. It felt like the holiday "kick off." Glassybaby trees glowed, our kinetic deer nodded their heads near the wine bar and glassblowers lit the background with their craft. It was just lovely. As part of the experience, our store was open for evening holiday shopping. Ten percent of all glassybaby sold went back to the organizers cause...Toys for Tots.

One of my favorite flashbacks to the evening...the Marines became torch bearers, lighting glassybaby for all of the party shoppers. We all just melded together in the overall effort; and valets munched on prime rib sandwiches at the close. Priceless.

So, we are in holiday heaven here. I must mention the sweetest anecdote. One of our adored customers belongs to a Christmas Club. She envisioned and realized a great surprise for her club compatriots. Twelve women arrived at our Greenlake store on Saturday morning at 11:30 am. Each received a surprise glassybaby gift certificate...to choose the color of her dreams. They had a champagne toast while watching our glass blowers. They then went to an Italian restaurant at U Village called Piatti. It was prearranged that during their lunch, they lit the 12 newly acquired glassybaby as a centerpiece to their table....So Sweet.

Lastly, a couple spent time choosing 5 glassybaby. They are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah. I was in our Saturday glassybay store, chiming in with color advice and providing back stock...in their quest to find their perfect glassybaby. They took their time and winked at the mirth of their careful choosing. But the best was the pun upon their departure. The gentleman of the couple unapologetically looked at me and said this: "As the glassybabe-inator would say: 'I'll be back.'"

In all holiday cheer we laud and thank you for parties and puns and thinking of glassybaby as the perfect gift of the season.